From original concept, fundraising, and production to festivals, distribution, PR and outreach, one can’t argue that the documentary producer’s job description is varied. At every level from executive down to assistant, a good producer knows how to anticipate the needs of a director and crew--all usually on a tight schedule and an even tighter budget. Whether you’re bringing your own concept to life or jumping in mid-stream to save a doc in trouble, a good producer must bring a vast array of talent and expertise to the project.

So how do you establish that trust within your team? How can you make sure everyone has the same goals in mind? How do you maintain an encouraging attitude in the face of complications?

Moderated by IDA Board Member Stephen Nemeth of Rhino Films, our panel of veteran non-fiction producers will discuss what to expect when producing a doc and how a successful producer gets the entire production team to deliver their best. Panelists include Lesley Chilcott (Waiting for 'Superman', It Might Get Loud, An Inconvenient Truth), James Moll (Foo Fighters, When I Rise, The Last Days), Elise Pearlstein (State 194, Last Call at the Oasis, Food, Inc.) and Jeffrey Tuchman (Railroaded in Texas, Mavericks, Miracles and Medicine and The Man From Hope).

Stephen Nemeth, ModeratorStephen Nemeth formed and heads up Rhino Films. He has produced and executive produced dozens of films. He worked with Amnesty International through Artists for Amnesty on developing and producing human rights related projects. Nemeth executive produced the Academy Award-nominated documentary War/Dance, Sundance Audience Award winner Fuel, Flow, Climate Refugees, Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story, Mr. Bitchin', Beisbol, Patriocracy and Pick Up The Mic and the upcoming State of Control and A Nuclear Family.

Lesley ChilcottAward-winning producer of An Inconvenient Truth, It Might Get Loud, and Waiting for Superman, for which she also served as second-unit director. Lesley is currently directing a documentary short on the subject of kids and computer programming. Other projects include the documentary Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird (2007), and various short films. Lesley began her career at MTV Networks, working on large multi-camera shows and series. Lesley is also an independent commercial producer and director, working with numerous distinguished production companies and advertising agencies over the years. Lesley founded the non-profit UnscrewAmerica.org and lives in Venice, CA.

James MollJames Moll’s work as a documentarian has earned him an Oscar®, two Emmys and a Grammy. A protégé of Steven Spielberg, James has directed, produced and edited such films as the sports adventure Running The Sahara, executive produced by Matt Damon; and his Oscar® winning The Last Days, executive produced by Spielberg. Recently, James directed Foo Fighters: Back and Forth. Moll’s Universal Studios based company, Allentown Productions, has created programming for AMC, Showtime, History, VH1, and Hallmark. In addition to work as a filmmaker, James established the non-profit Shoah Foundation with Spielberg for recording and preserving more than 50,000 ‘visual histories’ of Holocaust survivors. James serves as co-chair of the DGA Documentary Award and on the Executive Committee of the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Elise PearlsteinElise Pearlstein's latest producing effort is State 194, an all-access look at Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s quest to build a viable state. State 194 marks Elise's third documentary with Participant Media. She also produced Food, Inc., directed by Robby Kenner, which earned an Academy Award® nomination and two Emmys, and followed with Last Call at the Oasis, directed by Oscar winner Jessica Yu. Pearlstein and Yu previously worked together on Protagonist and The Living Museum. They’re currently finishing a documentary about the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, and embarking on a new project with Participant. Elise also directed and produced The Million Dollar Recipe, a peek inside the cutthroat Pillsbury Bake-Off contest. Other work includes documentaries written and produced for Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings, and Smoke and Mirrors, short-listed in 2000. Elise got hooked on documentaries while making her first one – a profile of the beloved hot dog stand, Pink's.

Jeffrey TuchmanJeffrey Tuchman is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning documentary producer, director and writer who, for the past thirty years, has dedicated himself to the creation of innovative documentary film and television. Among Tuchman’s credits are the Peabody and EMMY Award-winning Voices of Civil Rights, an oral history of the Civil Rights movement; Mavericks, Miracles & Medicine, an award-winning four-part series on the history of medicine, and The Man from Hope, the acclaimed Bill Clinton biography shown at the 1992 Democratic Convention, which was widely hailed as an historic piece of political filmmaking (and won Tuchman a Pollie Award). Tuchman has written and lectured extensively on documentary filmmaking, most notably during seven years on the faculty of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where he taught documentary filmmaking.

The evening's on-stage conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A, and a reception on the Cinefamily's backyard Spanish patio!

Meters on Fairfax: 2hr parking until 8pm, free thereafter. Parking in the lot across Fairfax is $3.00. Non-permitted parking available in neighborhoods behind The Cinefamily.

Doc U is the International Documentary Association's series of educational seminars and workshops for aspiring and experienced documentary filmmakers. Taught by artists and industry experts, participants receive vital training and insight on various topics including: fundraising, distribution, licensing, marketing, and business tactics.

When & Where

The Cinefamily
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles,
90036

Monday, December 17, 2012 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (PST)

Organizer

International Documentary Association

Founded in 1982, the International Documentary Association (IDA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that promotes nonfiction filmmakers, and is dedicated to increasing public awareness for the documentary genre. Our major program areas are: Advocacy, Filmmaker Services, Education, and Public Programs and Events.